Devastating floods have swept through several communities across Plateau and Bauchi States, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Torrential rains over the past week have triggered flash floods that have submerged homes, destroyed schools, washed away farmlands, and displaced hundreds of families.
In Plateau State, affected areas include parts of Shendam, Pankshin, and Qua’an Pan Local Government Areas, where floodwaters have rendered major roads impassable and farmlands unusable. In neighboring Bauchi State, communities in Ganjuwa, Toro, and parts of Dass Local Government Areas have also been severely impacted, with local authorities reporting collapsed houses, damaged school structures, and significant agricultural losses.
Eyewitnesses and community leaders describe the situation as the worst flooding experienced in recent years. “Our homes are gone, our children can’t go to school, and we have lost all our crops just weeks before harvest,” lamented Adamu Maigari, a resident of Ganjuwa LGA.
With the destruction of key infrastructure and livelihoods, affected residents are calling on the federal and state governments, as well as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to provide immediate relief and long-term mitigation plans.
Local emergency response efforts are underway, but the scale of destruction has overwhelmed available resources. Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps are being hastily set up in churches, mosques, and community centers, but many lack adequate food, clean water, and medical supplies.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State and Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State have both visited some of the affected areas and pledged support, while appealing to the federal government and international humanitarian organizations to assist with relief and reconstruction efforts.
Environmental experts warn that deforestation, poor drainage systems, and climate change have exacerbated flooding across Nigeria, and urge urgent investment in sustainable flood control infrastructure and disaster preparedness.